Ministry: November 23, 2025
You Are Qualified: Embracing Your Ministry of Grace
Pastor Michael kicked off a new, topical series this week, fresh off the powerful conclusion of Luke! If you missed it, remember that Jesus opened the Scriptures to show Himself as the fulfillment of everything and then commissioned His followers to be witnesses of all He did.
This week, Pastor Michael dove straight into an issue many of us struggle with: invalidating our own calling. How often have you thought, "I can't share the gospel," or "I'm not good enough/equipped to do that"?
The message? According to Scripture, you're wrong! 🤯
The Context of Confidence (2 Corinthians 3)
We jumped into 2 Corinthians 3, where Paul is defending his ministry against outsiders who demanded "credentials." Paul's powerful response? The Corinthian believers themselves were his letter of recommendation, "written on our hearts, known and read by everyone" (v. 2).
But the central truth he taught them (and us) is this:
"It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God." (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Our competency to be ministers of the New Covenant comes straight from the Spirit of the Living God!
From Law to Life
Pastor Michael contrasted the Old Covenant—the ministry of the law written on stone tablets—with the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was a ministry of condemnation; it showed us our failure. Even Moses, whose face glowed after being with God, put a veil on. The people couldn't look at the glory, and Moses essentially "negated" the visible glory of God.
Here is the incredible shift:
Old Covenant: The law brought death and condemnation. It proved you couldn't be good enough.
New Covenant: The ministry of the Spirit brings righteousness and life, overflowing with more glory!
Pastor Michael made a freeing point: Your incapability to fulfill the Old Covenant is what qualifies you for the New Covenant! Your weakness allows you to show off God's grace and redemption—a ministry of reconciliation.
Throw Off the Veil!
Because we have this hope, Paul urges us to act with great boldness (v. 12). We are not like Moses, hiding the glory.
When you turn to the Lord, the veil is removed!
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!
We look upon the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, being transformed into the same image of Christ "from glory to glory." This is the Spirit's work!
The Fuel to Endure
The sermon concluded by bleeding into Chapter 4:
"Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up." (2 Corinthians 4:1)
Your ministry is given to you not because you were worthy, but because God showed you mercy. That undeserved gift is the fuel to keep trying, keep sharing, and keep enduring.
You are fully equipped to be a minister of reconciliation! Don't let insecurity be a veil that covers the glory God intends to shine through you. Trust that God will do a mighty work in you.
